SHILLONG, JUNE 13: The Deputy Director of Health Services (Malaria) cum State Programme officer (NCVBDC) Meghalaya informed that the month of June is being observed as Anti Malaria Month every year prior to the onset of monsoon and malaria transmission season.
The objective of this campaign is to bring sustainable changes in the community behaviour towards Malaria elimination.
World Malaria Day was observed in our state along with the rest of the country on 25th April 2024, with the theme ‘Accelerating the Fight Against malaria for a more Equitable World’.
In this regard, various activities were carried out across the state to spread awareness on the prevention and control of malaria among the community thus intensifying our efforts towards reaching the goal of achieving zero indigenous cases by 2027 and eliminating malaria by 2030.
The state of Meghalaya has drastically reduced the Malaria morbidity and mortality over the years but in the year 2023 there was an increase of malaria cases and deaths in our state as compared to the year 2022 with South Garo Hills district contributing most of the cases in the state.
To sustain the momentum towards malaria elimination many activities have been planned.
As Malaria surveillance has become a core intervention, mass screenings are being conducted in all remote and hard to reach villages across the state by Malaria workers along with the ASHAs. All fever cases are also being screened by ANMs during VHND sessions.
The focus of these surveillance and screening activities is to ensure universal access to early malaria diagnosis and prompt treatment by enhancing and optimising case management.
ASHAs and malaria programme workers are equipped and trained for blood slide collection, RDTs (Rapid Diagnostic Tests) testing and are provided with antimalarials at the village level as early diagnosis and complete treatment is one of the strategies outlined in the framework for malaria elimination.
Various campaigns are being held in schools and villages involving the students, Village Health Councils, NGOs, Faith based organisations, student organisations and traditional healers to raise awareness on adoption of anti-malarial strategies like getting every fever tested for Malaria, use of LLINS (Long Lasting Insecticidal net) and carrying out activities in line with Swatch Bharat and not allowing water to collect which might lead to mosquito breeding.